The Kimberly City Council has joined most other neighboring cities by raising its sales tax rate to four percent.

The hike was passed unanimously in the council’s regular session Monday.

The move raises the overall tax rate in the city to 10 percent. It will take effect on June 1.

Mayor Bob Ellerbrock also said that he had contacted Gardendale developer Clint Singletary about streets in his Liberty Crossings subdivision. Ellerbrock said Singletary had money set aside to do repair work, which would be completed in about two months. The mayor said he would meet with Singletary in a couple of weeks to formalize a time frame for the work.

Problems with streets in the subdivision have been a longstanding issue for the council. The issue was brought to their attention two weeks ago by former mayor Ralph Lindsey, a resident of the subdivision, who asked the council to start legal action against Singletary.

In other business, the council:

• Dropped action on seeking the value of city-owned property on Jefferson Street, since a party interested in purchasing the parcel has not been heard from
• Tabled consideration of a sworn statement in proof of loss to Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation regarding wind damage to city property
• Approved spending $431 for new tires for a police car, $800 for a new suction unit for a rescue truck, and $50 for parts for another piece of life-saving equipment
• Heard from Chris Cassidy, a new member of the city’s planning and zoning board
• Were told by council member John Richardson that he had repaired the computers in the Kimberly Senior Center, and that all were now operable.